I thought that the first show about the Day of the Dead was very offensive. I lost count of the number of times that he described things as "weird" or "bizarre". There are many things about US culture that could be considered weird, but he would never describe them as such. He spoke like a typical ugly American. It seems that he did absolutely no research before he went to Mexico, and that is his job! I also got the impression that he acted ignorant in order to be able to ask stupid questions for a laugh. Of course, he brought up the Halloween question - how original! (I knew he would.) The ghoulish video and sound effects, the strange music, the bit about mezcal being dangerous, the zooming in and out, the blurring effects - all completely infantile. The producers of this show and the host have absolutely no respect for the culture and I am sure they all had a good laugh at my people's expense. I will never watch this show again. I just don't care what this ignorant fool thinks about anything.
Wheww...laugh much, tecpati? I thought the show was fine. Maybe a little hokey, but isn't EVERYTHING on travel channel hokey? I thought all due respect was paid, and I'm MARRIED to a Mexican...she LOVED it (and grew up with Day o the Dead). Pretentious travelers probably won't like it because it speaks more to the untraveled...yes, tecpati, most Americans would think that Day of the Dead IS a bit weird and bizarre, but I think the host went to great lengths to show that it really isn't, the only thing that was really bizarre about it was him, and I that was obviously intentional, so how can that be offensive? I didn't notice any inaccuracies, per se, maybe some regional differences in facts, but nothing "dead" wrong...Was that offensive? Pretentious travelers should just keep traveling, not worry about harmless travel shows. I'll watch it if it's on again, at least it had a story.
Is weird (or bizarre) the best word to use multiple times to describe this day? If I went to an American funeral, baptism, or wedding,and if I described the rites as"weird", would that not be offensive to most Americans? Isn't the point of these travel shows to move beyond stereotypes? I do not think at all that this program "went to great lengths" to show that it isn't weird. If they did, why did he use the word "weird" so many times? This show spent a great deal of time on video and sound effects to develop a ghoulish air - and that WAS offensive. Why was that necessary? Also, what is a pretentious traveler?
I have to agree, I thought the show went for cheap effects and the host was nothing but annoying... My husband is Hispanic as well and grew up with the day of the dead rituals and festivities and we both thought the show left a lot to be desired. It told nothing, that a hundred other shows have not told you better before. The host tried too hard to be funny! Less is more. I also found the video and sound effects too much. Like I said, a very cheap way to get attention, but nothing of substance! I know I will not watch this again.... a waste of good airtime
As a mexican myself, I think Tecpatl and the others are way off. The show was about having fun and showing some of the deep meaning behind DDLM. It was meant to such average americans in to what matters during these days...family and fun. It showed the beauty of our country and it's people. And it laughed a little at the silliness. What's wrong with that? You guys need to get a life!
I thought the show was great. I think for the vast majority of viewers it was perfect. It touched on as much as it could in a 30mins show. I have been to mexico so it was a nice hightlight of other things there besides the normal Cancun view. I didnt know much about the day of the dead and after viewing the show it showed me enough to want to find out more about it. I think the host did a good job of explaining what it was about and what it means to that culture. I just dont see how you can expect a totally in depth show that is only 30mins in length. I dont really see how any of it was offensive and i think it had alot of info on there and just enough humor to keep you watching. I will definitly watch the next episode.
If you think a "Ghoulish" air at Day of the Dead is offensive, then you obviously haven't been to Day of the Dead, did you notice all the "ghoulish" costumes that all the LOCALS buy and wear? Is that offensive? This isn't a church ceremony, it's a celebration in the streets and cemeteries. Some might think THAT'S weird... and YES some cultures MIGHT ACTUALLY find OUR rites a little strange!! It's called cultural differences. Hats off to anyone who goes in and tries to explain it a little more. Pretentious travelers are those that get offended when another traveler shares an experience that doesn't match up to their own. Every traveler sees something different in any given destination, and their perspective will not be the same as another. If you don't agree, fine, just watch, but take it easy, it's a totally harmless show. Try South Park! That should REALLY get your blood boiling.
The idea of a series on festivals is inspired but please not with this host. I agree totally with several of the other posts that he is annoying.I can't image traveling with this guy. He tries very hard to be funny but he's not at all. Imagine Anthony Bourdain doing a show about festivals, with his unique take on things, his natural wit, his great writing ability. Most of the show just had the usual boring factual guidebook narration.
And what does getting drunk and passing out have to do with a religious festival or a scene on how to make Mescal or eating bugs? Or visiting an Aztec ruin.
He doesn't relate to the local people at all, going around with an expat. In the scene where he visits a local Mexican's home all he does is watch a shrine be prepared and then thanks them for the visit. What visit! Why not sit down and enjoy a meal together or talk about how the festival fits into their life and culture?
And what's with all the flashy shots and fast motion. Style over content but is this really style. It seems so amateurish.
And everything is bizarre and weird. The cultural sensitively issue has already been raised, so I won't get into that but it is something that doesn't seem right to me.
Like some other shows on the Travel Channel these days that are really travel shows (and they are getting fewer and fewer with poker and food shows and Vegas all over the schedule) it's really dumbed down. When you consider that many of the commercials are for high price items like luxury cars and expensive jewelry you wonder who they think their audience is? There wasn't a single ad for a travel related company, so that should tell you something.
And what's with all these male hosts in the pilots - not a woman among them. My wife makes all the travel decisions and she would like to get a women's perspective on things, at least some of the time.
In short, the idea of a travel show on festivals is a winner but this show is a loser big time. Travel Channel. You could do better than this, much better.
As a woman who is a devoted viewer of the travel channel I really don't mind that there are so few woman hosts. I love Samantha Brown but also I'm a great fan of some of the male hosts. Maybe if the next president is a woman things will change:-)
It's just that this host is really not a good one for this type of series unless festivals means going to Spring Break and getting stupid drunk or a "Wild One" type show. He seems an odd choice to host a program on a cultural subject such as festivals. Is this just going to be just a series about getting drunk, MTV type flashy editing and witless narration?
It would be better without a host and the usual male narrator:-)or give a woman a try at it. She's got to do better than this.
Great idea for a series though. I think the favorable rating are more about the idea of the series more than the episode itself, which in my humble opinion I found boring and cliche.
Sorry for the bad news. Hopefully the rest of the pilots will be better.
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